Gunmen kill Pakistan oil chief

Karachi has a history of sectarian killings

Shaukat Mirza, the managing director of Pakistan State Oil, has been shot dead in the port city of Karachi.

Police said that Mr Mirza was killed by two gunmen on a motorbike in an upmarket area of the city while on his way to his office.

His chauffeur was seriously injured in the shooting and died later in hospital.

The BBC's Susannah Price in Islamabad says it is one of the most high-profile killings in Karachi for some time.

Sectarian violence

Police say they do not know the identity of the killers or their motive.

"We can't say what was the motive behind the murder... but investigations are going on," senior police official Sardar Majid said.

However, Mr Mirza was a Shia and Karachi has witnessed on-going violence between Shia and Sunni groups in the city.

There have been several killings by extremists on both sides.

Mr Mirza had been managing director of the state oil company for more than a year after working in the private sector.

Company board member Nisar Menon described his murder as a great setback.

"We have lost a great man, a corporate leader and a visionary leader," he said.

Pakistan State Oil is the largest oil company in the country and the third largest firm by market capitalisation on the Karachi stock exchange.